West Des Moines forester shares tips on fighting EAB in Franklin County

     Local tree lovers gathered at Hampton City Hall last Wednesday to learn strategies aimed at combating an invasive green beetle.
     John Olds, urban forester for West Des Moines, discussed his department’s plan to stop the emerald ash borer (EAB) from destroying the city’s ash tree population. So far, only chemical pesticide injections have proven successful at protecting ash trees from EAB’s relentless advance.
     “Originally, I never thought [EAB] would kill every untreated ash tree, but it will,” Olds said. “It’s gonna hammer them all.”
     EAB has reached 31 Iowa counties and will eventually spread across the entire state. It hasn’t been confirmed in Franklin County yet, but Olds encouraged residents to start treatment immediately if they have an ash tree they want to save. That suggestion contrasted previous advice from state officials who believed treatment should begin only if EAB has been confirmed within 15 miles of a county.
     Read the full article in the May 4 edition of the Hampton Chronicle.